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Russia’s Roscosmos to develop cooperation with China in manned space flights

"Cooperation with the Chinese side in this sphere has been organized within the framework of the joint Russian-Chinese commission for cooperation in manned cosmonautics," the Roscosmos press office said

MOSCOW, April 22. /TASS/. Russia and China enjoy strategic partnership relations and the Russian space agency Roscosmos intends to develop cooperation with Chinese partners in manned space flights, the Roscosmos press office told TASS on Friday.

"Considering the strategic nature of partnership relations between Russia and China, we will, undoubtedly, develop cooperation with Chinese partners in the field of manned cosmonautics," the Roscosmos press office emphasized.

The cosmonauts’ constant presence in low near-Earth orbit is important and, therefore, Roscosmos is focused on thoroughly exploring the issue of further work there both on its own and as part of possible international cooperation with Chinese partners, the Russian space agency said.

China has huge potential in manned space flights, Roscosmos said.

"Cooperation with the Chinese side in this sphere has been organized within the framework of the joint Russian-Chinese commission for cooperation in manned cosmonautics," the press office added.

Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with China’s CGTN TV Channel in early April that Russia and China might discuss the construction of joint modules for the Tiangong space station. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin said that China was inviting cosmonauts from other countries to join projects on the Chinese orbital station that would launch its operations in normal mode by late 2022.

For his part, Director of China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) Hao Chun said that the Chinese authorities were set to use their national orbital station together with Russia and other countries on an equitable basis, in spite of the complex geopolitical situation in the world.